News Roundup: New Sonata, Tonale on its Way, Lamborghini PHEV

Lamborghini’s new chapter

Lamborghini launched its first PHEV and its most powerful road car ever last week in the form of the Revuelto. Named for a fighting bull, the word means "scrambled" in Italian. An apt description of what this 1,001 hp supercar will do to your insides. The Revuelto has a 6.5L V12 along with two electric motors on the front axle and one in the rear. It's an all-new V12, showing the brand's commitment to that powerplant going forward. The Revuelto will have a short EV-only range thanks to a 3.8 kWh battery. It will also default to front-wheel drive in that mode. But the styling and outright performance are pure Lamborghini. It's just a raging bull that should have lower tailpipe emissions than the Aventador it replaces. Deliveries start by the end of the year.

Alfa plug-in hybrid starts production



Alfa Romeo's Tonale PHEV has just entered production. The stylish compact Alfa crossover should be in Canada by June with both PHEV and gas-powered models offered here. The Tonale PHEV has 48 km of range and makes 285 hp. The 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale starts from $44,995 for a Sprint 2.0L. The same trim of the PHEV starts from $54,995, both before destination.

New Sonata



Hyundai has restyled the Sonata and transformed the car into something even more stylish than the model it replaces. Gone are the hood-mount LED lights and wide grille. Here is a single LED running the width of the nose and headlights hidden in the lower grill openings. At the back, Hyundai has applied a new H-shaped LED taillight that again runs the width of the car to help make it look like a longer, lower stance. For the first time in a Hyundai, the cabin has twin screens in a curved bezel inside. The two 12.3-inch displays point toward the driver to emphasize the cockpit design. We don't have Canadian specs yet, but Hyundai USA mentioned goodies like a power trunk, new driver assists, and tweaks made to make the car more silent.

GM might dump Apple Carplay and Android Auto



General Motors is looking at phasing out Apple CarPlay and Android Auto phone mirroring systems. The two bits of extremely popular software let drivers essentially skip their in-vehicle infotainment system. Instead, navigation and audio were done by the phone on the car's screen. The shift is said to come with GM's switch to EVS and it could go away as soon as the 2024 Blazer EV. GM will have its own alternative, most likely, and it is being developed in partnership with Google. The move could help GM capture more of your in-vehicle data instead of Apple or Google.

April Fools brought some solid fake products from automakers again this year, though it was toned down over past years. Largely because the first was a Saturday. Here are some of our favourites.

Jeep went plaid:

Introducing the Jeep Wrangler Flannel Edition. This limited edition 4x4 features an all Buffalo Plaid interior, keeping you as cozy as a Lumberjack in the Canadian wilderness. #AprilFools pic.twitter.com/QFBqSSVjkg

— Jeep Canada (@JeepCanada) April 1, 2023

Honda UK said HUSH! to backseat passengers.

Subaru decided Forager Granola was a great co-branding effort for its Wilderness off-road models.



Jeep UK decided a new faux-mud paint would be popular with its customers. The company is probably not wrong. After all, who could argue with noted expert Dr. Terry Firma?